Improvement in door-latches



UNTTED STATES PATENT OFFICE. v

JOHN H. COOPER, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

IMPROVEMENT IN DOOR- LATCH ES.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 37,567, dated February 3, 1863.

To all whom it may concern.-

Beit known that I, JOHN H. COOPER, of the city of Philadelphia and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvementsin Door-Latches 5 and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters of reference marked thereon.

My invention relates to improvements in that class of door-latches in which the knob acts directly on the latch to disengage it from the striker and release the door; andit consists, rst, of a latch turning on an axis parallel to the axis of the hinges of the door; and, secondly, of the arrangement of knobs, shank, and shank-guides, such that the withdrawal of the latch is effected by a movement of the knob in the same direction as the door moves, during the act of opening.

In order to enable others skilled in the art to make and use my invention,I will now proceed to describe its construction and operation.

Referring to the drawings which form a part of this specification, Figure l show a horizontal section of the latch, door, and doorjamb. Fig. 2 shows an interior view. Fig. 3 shows an edge View of the latch on a door.

D is the door. It opens in the direction ofthe arrow shown on Fig. l; j, the j amb into which the door shuts; A, the shank to which the knobs k 7c are fastened. a is a iixed collar on the shank and rests against the prongs of the latch L. W is a ring secured to the door, and forms a bearing for the shank. The other end of the shank is guided by the metal ofthe case through which it passes. The latch L turns on the axis-screw E, which is fitted into the projections F F of the case B B. The other end, o, of the latch is in the form of a hook and enters the striker C. The striker is securely fastened to the door-jamb. Against the pin p on the top of the latch L the spring s presses. This spring is fastened to the back end ofthe case by a screw, s. The tendency of the spring is to force the latch into the striker and the knob-shank into the position drawn. The bolt b, turning on the axis-screw has a notch, h, into which the ring of the key plays to throw the bolt during the acts of locking and unlocking. When the thick part of the bolt b is thrown between the case and the latch, the latter is prevented from being moved by the knobs and the door is as firmly locked as if a separate bolt were thrown into the striker.

In order to open a door to which a lock of this kind is attached no twisting of the knob is required, but simply a motion of the knob in the same direction as the door opens. If the door is to be opened when approaching it in the direction the door moves while being opened, Vnothin g more is required than to push the knob k toward the door. As it moves the latch is withdrawn from the striker and the door yields to tie pressure. When approaching it from the other side, if the`knob 7c be pulled the same result follows. To open any door secured by this latch but one motion is required, and that is always in the same direction as the door opens. This latch turns on a pivot, the axis of which is parallel to that of the hinges of the door. When the latch is moved in opening or closing the door it does not slide on any part. Whatever friction it has is on the pivot, and as pivotal friction is always less than sliding friction, therefore this form of latch Will endure more wear than any other kind. It will also be easier to open for the same reason. In the ordinary sliding latch the spring which keeps the latch out must always travel the same distance as the latch. This is usually too great arange for the length of the spring used, and the consequence is it either breaks or becomes weakened by overstraining. In this latch the spring acts upon a pin near the axis of the latch and has its motion proportionally shortened. The spring is made heavier to compensate for the disadvantage of want of leverage. The strikers of all ordinary rim locks and latches are fastened to the outside of jambs by a couple of screws, which are easily drawn or forced aside. These alone are the strength of such fastenings. 1n this latch the striker is embedded in the substance of the jamb and is almost entirely hidden from view when the door is shut. When locked the door cannot be opened except by a mutilation of the lock or by tearing out a large fragment of the jamb.

Fig. et illustrates the application of this kind of latch to closet-doors. The same letters refer to like parts. D is the door opening in the direction of the arrow; j, the jam 5 k, the knob fastened to the shank A. rI he latteris screwed into a square sliding block, a, which has a projection on its inner end, extending behind the inner arm of the latch L, by which the latch is drawn from the striker O, a spring, s, presses against a pin, p, near the axis e of the latch. The axis in this case consists of two cylindrical projections, one above and one below the body of the latch, which turn in appropriate cavities in the case. The screw n holds the back in the case of the latch.

To open a door provided with alatch of this kind, nothing more is required than to pull the knob in the sanie mannerl as it' it were fastened to the door, the latch is drawn, and the door opens the same asif it had no fastenings at all. By pushing the knob the door is closed, and the latch being liberated it slides over the striker and is thrown behind the latter by the action of the spring.

Fig. 5 illustrates the application of the same principle to sliding doors. The door D moves from the jam in the direct-ion of the arrows. The striker C is secured to the jam. The latch L turns on the pivot E. The spring s forces the latch in the closed position, as shown. A is the shank, and the dotted circle shows the knob. When the knob is forced in the direction of the arrow, the latch is raised, and a combination of force in the same direction opens the door. To shut the door, push the knob in the direction for closing, and when the latch coines in contact with the striker it will rise over the latter and be thrown behind by the action of the spring s.

I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent- The latch L, in combination with the knobs lc and k and shank A, when the latch turns on an axis parallel to that of the door, and when the latch is opened by pushing or pulling the knobs in the manner described.

JOHN H. COOPER.

Witnesses:

J osnUA W. GAsKILL, Sinks H. RUSH. 

